The Journey 202: The Dark Night (Rev.Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla)
Read; Romans 7:14-25
The release of the Batman Movie “ The Dark Knight” was eagerly awaited by both batman lovers and movie buffs. Everybody was excited as this seemed to be the last of the Batman trilogy. But today America is mourning. Mourning; because innocent movie goers at late night movie show at Colorado has gone through one of the most traumatic and nightmare experience. Thus the excitement to watch the latest Batman movie has turned into a disaster, not only for the movie goers in Colorado, but the whole nation. The reason for this nightmarish experience was because a lone gunman James Holmes, who came to watch the movie, left after a brief period, and then came back into the theatre wearing hoods and mask and started firing indiscriminately at the innocent people, who were glued to the big screen watching the Dark Knight. This indiscrimate shooting has already left 12 dead and more than 38 injured according to the news reports. People are shocked because this is the worst experience in the shooting history of this nation. Even President Obama has cancelled his election campaign for the day, and has called the nation to pray for the grieving families. We do not know the reason as to why the gunman fired indiscriminately. One of the news item that struck me was the news where the Pastor of Elevation Christian Church, Pastor Scott Bloyer stating that he presumes that James Holmes had visited their church last week, but left soon after sitting in the back benches. This raises a lot of questions. Did James Holmes come to the church to seek some sort of help with regards to any of his crisis that he was going through?. Did the church fail to see the man in need and whether these are some of the factors that led to the indiscriminate killing? Only James Holmes can answer these questions. But then as a members of a church and a community of faith how do we respond to such crisis situation and what can we learn from this gruesome incident?
This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in our Church”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 7: 14-25. Here in this portion Paul is very candid about the human nature. He makes a blunt and truthful testimony of his life. What he exposes through his words are particularly true for all the believers. He says that “ What I want to do I do not do, and what I do not want to do, I do” [ Romans 7: 15,16]. He continues by saying that is not good that dwells in me but it is sin living in me. He has the desire to do good but he cannot carry it out. I feel the predicament that Paul is going through represent all people in this world. We all want to do good but it is often evil that comes out because of our sinful nature. It is in such a context that Paul states that “We need to walk in the Spirit and deliberately not fulfill the lust of the flesh” [ Galatians 5: 13]. People who want to do good, but are forced to do evil because of their sinful nature. It is in such a context the community of believers helps another person. It is through the fellowship of community of faith [ Church] and the relationship with fellow believers we help each other in standing firm in our faith and also acts as a deterrent from falling into sin and other evil activities. I believe today in many our church’s this does not take place and hence you have lot members in the church who feel that there is no one to help them in their times of crisis and pain and they are left all alone. It is at such weak moments that people often fall. Let us in the aftermath of the Colorado killing, affirm that we as church will strengthen our relationship and fellowship with our community so that through this we help each other in their faith living and also to creatively deal with the crisis in life.
The release of the Batman Movie “ The Dark Knight” was eagerly awaited by both batman lovers and movie buffs. Everybody was excited as this seemed to be the last of the Batman trilogy. But today America is mourning. Mourning; because innocent movie goers at late night movie show at Colorado has gone through one of the most traumatic and nightmare experience. Thus the excitement to watch the latest Batman movie has turned into a disaster, not only for the movie goers in Colorado, but the whole nation. The reason for this nightmarish experience was because a lone gunman James Holmes, who came to watch the movie, left after a brief period, and then came back into the theatre wearing hoods and mask and started firing indiscriminately at the innocent people, who were glued to the big screen watching the Dark Knight. This indiscrimate shooting has already left 12 dead and more than 38 injured according to the news reports. People are shocked because this is the worst experience in the shooting history of this nation. Even President Obama has cancelled his election campaign for the day, and has called the nation to pray for the grieving families. We do not know the reason as to why the gunman fired indiscriminately. One of the news item that struck me was the news where the Pastor of Elevation Christian Church, Pastor Scott Bloyer stating that he presumes that James Holmes had visited their church last week, but left soon after sitting in the back benches. This raises a lot of questions. Did James Holmes come to the church to seek some sort of help with regards to any of his crisis that he was going through?. Did the church fail to see the man in need and whether these are some of the factors that led to the indiscriminate killing? Only James Holmes can answer these questions. But then as a members of a church and a community of faith how do we respond to such crisis situation and what can we learn from this gruesome incident?
This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in our Church”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 7: 14-25. Here in this portion Paul is very candid about the human nature. He makes a blunt and truthful testimony of his life. What he exposes through his words are particularly true for all the believers. He says that “ What I want to do I do not do, and what I do not want to do, I do” [ Romans 7: 15,16]. He continues by saying that is not good that dwells in me but it is sin living in me. He has the desire to do good but he cannot carry it out. I feel the predicament that Paul is going through represent all people in this world. We all want to do good but it is often evil that comes out because of our sinful nature. It is in such a context that Paul states that “We need to walk in the Spirit and deliberately not fulfill the lust of the flesh” [ Galatians 5: 13]. People who want to do good, but are forced to do evil because of their sinful nature. It is in such a context the community of believers helps another person. It is through the fellowship of community of faith [ Church] and the relationship with fellow believers we help each other in standing firm in our faith and also acts as a deterrent from falling into sin and other evil activities. I believe today in many our church’s this does not take place and hence you have lot members in the church who feel that there is no one to help them in their times of crisis and pain and they are left all alone. It is at such weak moments that people often fall. Let us in the aftermath of the Colorado killing, affirm that we as church will strengthen our relationship and fellowship with our community so that through this we help each other in their faith living and also to creatively deal with the crisis in life.